<p>I am strongly considering transferring from a fairly prestigious private school to a large public school. I original chose the school that I'm at because it has a unique engineering program, offers small class sizes, and is in the suburbs of a large city with many opportunities. I felt pretty confident about this decision, but after attending for a quarter it just doesn't feel right.</p>
<p>I grew up dreaming of going to a specific large public school in a rural area. Both of my parents went there, my grandfather taught there, and my grandparents still live in the small town where it is located. It still has a great engineering program and actually has an even better alumni group, but its program is a little less innovative, and its rural location makes a co-op much more difficult.</p>
<p>My issue is that I feel like I would be more at home at the public school. I feel almost no connection to my current school, its city, or even its region of the U.S. Meanwhile, I've spent months at a time at the small town where the public school is. I thought I would be able to get over this connection due to the academic opportunities of my current school, but this is not the case. I feel as if I'm missing out on the opportunity to live in a small town for four years, while the rest of my life I'll probably be near a city anyway. Am I crazy for wanting to switch?</p>
<p>Other reasons to switch, aside from feel: Would have semesters instead of quarters (more time to learn material). I would have more motivation to be outgoing. Greater personality diversity. More clubs and leadership opportunities.</p>
<p>Side Notes: Both schools are far away (across the country) from my hometown. My brother will be attending the public school next year. I am not an introvert, and have made friends at my current school.</p>
<p>Have you checked costs, since it appears that the public is an out-of-state one, and one obvious “prestigious private school” in a suburb with engineering and quarter system is known to have very good financial aid?</p>
<p>Your performance in college courses will be highly important for transfer admissions, although your high school records will also matter if you want to transfer at the sophomore level. Some schools (e.g. almost all California public schools) may prefer transfer students at the junior level. At some of the flagship-level public universities, engineering majors may be difficult to be admitted to, either transferring from the outside, or declaring the engineering major after enrolling as undeclared or another major. Be sure to check into all of these issues carefully. Others can help you better if you named the school you want to transfer to.</p>
<p>Do not withdraw or otherwise cut ties with your current school until you have everything lined up at the new school. If you do leave, file a formal withdrawal with your current school so that you can return more easily should you find that the new school is not as suitable as hoped.</p>
<p>So returning is actually a possibility if I formally withdraw? And if I make the switch I’ll just go in as a freshman in the spring. I’ve already been accepted. None of my credits will transfer, but I will actually be able to use my APs at the public.</p>
<p>You can look up “withdrawal”, “readmission”, “leave of absence”, and/or “reinstatement” on your current school’s web site to see what the procedures and rules are. They may vary by school, but it is typically best to do all of the formal withdrawal forms to maximize the possibility of being allowed to return, and so that they don’t think you are still enrolled but missing.</p>
<p>Why would no credits transfer if your current school is any decent regionally accredited school? Also, be sure to check the new school to make sure that you are admitted either as a transfer, or that you are allowed to be admitted as frosh despite having been enrolled in a college after high school graduation.</p>
<p>Ok thanks for the info. The public doesn’t allow any transfers until junior year, and no engineering transfers. I was just planning on testing out of stuff, but maybe they would accept some credits if I talked to an advisor.</p>
<p>Now you’ve got me guessing. I cannot think of a fairly prestigious private school in the suburbs on the quarter system. I can think of a very prestigious one. It is a Jr. University (Leland, Jr., that is). Hmm. Fairly prestigious, you say?</p>
<p>Haha PurpleTitan got em right. But yeah the school allows some engineering transfers, but not mechanical (my major) unless you go to one of its branch campuses.</p>
<p>Not being able to transfer in in the major you want is a big minus in my book. All that other stuff matter, but you’re going to school to . . . go to school. Transferring to PSU in a major you do not want or to a PSU branch seems a bit crazy, IMO.</p>
<p>Also, the quarter system doesn’t allow you to catch your breath, but you do learn more material at NU.</p>
<p>Oh yeah @PurpleTitan I understand that, that’s why I’m in this dilemma, because otherwise I’d wait it out and transfer later. Due to PSU’s transfer policies, switching later isn’t really an option. If I leave now, I’ll start spring semester and basically be on track with the rest of the freshman engineers because of my AP’s.</p>
<p>And I definitely see the academic benefits of NU, I’m just trying to gauge whether or not they outweigh the social benefits, like more time for clubs/friendships and being closer to family (at least the family I have in PA).</p>
<p>I co-oped in Houston even though my university was in a small town in the Southeast far away. Nowadays people even co-op overseas from US colleges. Location of college should not limit co-op opportunities if you work a semester and go to school a semester and back and forth. Don’t let that concern stop you from transferring.</p>